I went down to the shopping center today, to have coffee with Dad. When I drove up, I noticed a man sitting on the ground, next to the bench, in front of my insurance agent’s office, near the coffeehouse. Another man was with him, though not sitting on the ground. We got our coffee, and sat on a bench nearby.

The second man walked some thirty feet away, made a call on his cell phone, then returned to the first man – whose name we soon learned was Robert. Robert had gotten off the ground and was sitting on a bench. His friend spoke to him. I only heard little bits of what he said, but it went something like this:

“Man, they say you have a warrant out for your arrest. … Robert, you know I’d help you, but I’m on probation myself. … You think you should turn yourself in? … You know you can’t run. … Robert, you can’t run. … You have people who love you. … You’re a wonderful man. … You go in, you can get into detox.”

We drank our coffee, and in a few minutes, a police car cruised slowly by, then another, and a third. They took parking places among the other cars in the lot, discreetly.

I told Dad, “I had a feeling they’d be here. Maybe we should move, give them a little room to work.” So we moved a little farther away, but we were still within earshot of what was going down with Robert.

The police officers walked up and talked with Robert’s friend, who told them Robert “needs help.” Then he left, drinking a Starbucks Frapucino through a straw. I don’t mean to seem flippant, it’s just a fact. He’d done his best for his friend.

The cops woke Robert up – he was drifting off in a sitting position – and helped to his feet. They handcuffed him, and let him sit on the bench, while one of the officers went to get a car to take him in. Another officer asked Robert why he was drinking so much today, and if he always does. He didn’t answer; in fact, I never heard him say anything. The cop added that this was for the best: “You can go in take care of your warrants tomorrow.” They put him in a car and took him away. I noticed he was laying across the back seat.

I told my Dad, and I’ll tell you, that alcoholism ruins countless lives. It never lets you go. There’s no cure. Did you know that? Alcoholism/drug addiction is a progressive, incurable, ultimately fatal disease. There is a treatment, by which the disease can be arrested – so to speak – and I pray to God that Robert finds it, before it’s too late.

Wouldn’t it be wonderful if we could find a source of the resources to find a more compassionate way of dealing with the victims of the disease, besides taking them to jail. That’s a good dream. Meanwhile, let’s pray for Richard and all those who suffer.